Phil Valentine, 1959–2021

This is a call for civility. This is a tribute to the voice of reason.

Love him or hate him, there was an undeniable sense of humanity that Phil Valentine brought to the table. While he advocated ideologies that resonated with specific political affiliations, his common-sense approach and his comradery with humanity exuded a classiness and a style that gave many readers and listeners pause, regardless of their own leanings.

In light of his contributions, and with a deep sense of loss, I echo his call.

The recent state of world affairs has ushered in an era of unprecedented division. While on a smaller scale, in isolated areas, the current climate of what can best be described as evil has always existed, taking advantage of opportunity when and where it was available, it is unparalleled in some ways to what we are presently experiencing. More than ever, it seems division is the driving force behind every event, every decision and every voice that is not censored or silenced.

It is said that perception is reality. This holds true. Therefore, media has been mainstreamed to provide a narrative driven by agenda. Even now, these words that I form, have intention. Anyone communicating any information who doesn’t claim to have an agenda is a liar. But, what is truth? How do we come about it? In the age of information, what differentiates information from truth, and how can one know for certain?

This is where the voice of reason is essential. This is where the need to discerningly research information from multiple sources, representing differing opinions, is vital. How many people do you know who take the time to thoroughly research a given topic before taking the stance of an expert? In my experience, the number is quite low.

To elaborate on the current hot topic of masks and mandates, let me state a few things to keep in mind:

Many people are afraid. They are afraid for their loved ones and for themselves. They’re afraid of the economic impact on their livelihoods and the ripple effects for the future. They wish for an answer and a cure to bring things back to business as usual. To some degree, we all fall into this category. However, it’s also important to remember that opportunists take advantage of opportunity, and government in general (some governments more than others) have fostered a distrust, for good reason.

It’s also worth noting that when you see a roach out in the open, you can bet money that there are at least a dozen more that you can’t see. Therefore, considering the current crisis, those who would profit under such conditions have their own agenda to serve, and some observers are aware of those schemes, either through education of past events or sensitivity to present circumstances.

Additionally, some people advocate for masks because, while an educated person would understand that they offer only a minimal level of protection, a minimal level is still better than no level. Others, however, may suffer more (and many have already suffered) from the effects of wearing a mask—emotionally, psychologically and physically—than they would from the virus itself.

Furthermore, anyone who is educated at all on the placebo effect knows that mentality plays a pivotal role in our actual physical health. Therefore, it stands to reason that the virus is plaguing us in more ways than just its own invasion of our physical well-being. Because of the fear that it is breeding and the division around intensely differing opinions on potential solutions, it has caused just as much damage to our psyches and our sense of community and unity as it has to our bodies.

The bottom line is this: we all have our reasons for why we feel the way we do. We all have personal experiences, statistics, fears, family members, friends and people who support our own views. Justification is crucial for fueling impassioned debate and retaliation. However, in this call to civility, I want to resound what the founding forefathers of this country reminded us. United we stand.

I applaud the many encounters I’ve had over the course of the past year with an increasingly awakened and growing group of people throughout the state who seem to have overcome the mainstream narrative and are instead thinking for themselves despite their actual stances on matters.

I applaud those who understand that civility is instrumental in true change and in overthrowing evil, as the great Martin Luther King Jr. so auspiciously illustrated. And, I thank God that I live in a country that affords me the freedom to speak these things in a public forum. I will not let the blood of my ancestors, who fought for the liberty that I’ve enjoyed, be shed in vain. I will stand. I will stand for truth, and despite the political climate, I will constantly seek to maintain unity. I am asking you to rise to that occasion, and thanking you should you choose to do so.

I thank Phil Valentine for his many years of service and his voice of reason.